Sonic Dash comes rolling into the Google Play Store, takes in-app ads to another level

If you spent any length of time looking for games to download onto your Android device, you’d know the Google Play Store has no shortage of endless runners. Today, your favorite spikey-haired hedgehog is joining their ranks. Sonic Dash, is all new for Android and features the world famous blue protagonist, as he spins, jumps and, of course, dashes his way throughout linear levels in search of shiny gold coins.

An endless runner more akin to Subway Surfers, players assume the role as Sonic the Hedgehog, flicking either left or right to dodge obstacles, swiping up to jump over them, or down to spin attack. For a Sonic the Hedgehog game, we have to admit, it translates pretty darn well into an endless runner. Gameplay is challenging, obstacles and enemies are mixed, and it will take quick reflexes to clear areas and bank coins.

In-game currency

Because Sonic Dash is a freemium game we’re talking about here, the usual sets of in-game currency apply. You’ll accumulate gold coins the easiest, simply by playing a level and banking them at various checkpoints. These can be spent on simple power ups to advance further in a level, giving you bragging rights should you connect the game to your social networks. Harder to come by are the “Red Star Rings”, used for unlocking new characters, playing mini games, or gaining extra lives. It’s the typical freemium-fare, something we’ve grown accustomed to.

Ads

It’s Sonic Dash’s other business model that will, no doubt, be the make-or-break for most. Intrusive popup video ads greet you at every turn. They’re so jarring and seemingly appear whenever they damn while feel like it (usually when you’re in the menu screen). Frustrating doesn’t even begin to describe them. Not only will you be forced to watch a video for about 5 seconds before being able to skip, but another popup ad always follows, requiring you to press a small “X” in the corner to exit. Of course, these aren’t always the easiest to hit and more than often you’ll accidentally click the ad forwarding you to the Play Store. It’s annoying, and we can’t shake the feeling that they’re supposed to be.

The real price of admission

For a minimum of $4, ads can be removed from the game altogether, something I’ve strongly considered paying for simply to keep my sanity. Sega tries to sweeten the deal by including a gang of in-game currency. It’s a shame because the game is actually pretty solid, but if playing a Sonic game in between video ads sounds like a good time to you, you can download Sonic Dash for free in the Google Play Store.

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I hate freemium games…. I rather pay for a game out right than be given the hard sell at ever turn. What’s worse are paid games that still want you to buy “coins” in order to progress our enable features.

http://twitter.com/gamercore Chris Chavez

I have a sorta love/hate relationship with them. Sometimes (rarely) in-app purchases are executed well. Paying real money for in-game currency makes sense for those that like to “cheat” in their games. And as long as it’s for permanent in-game items (new characters, outfits, augments, etc.), I’m cool with it.

It’s when it’s temporary stuff that I stay away. Also, when it comes to freemium games, if there’s more than 1 kind of currency, you know eventually you’ll hit a pay wall. Just a trap to weasel more money out of people

renz

So now we have to use real money to cheat heh? In the past just press enter and enter your cheat codes and viola you got your cheat :p . I can understand freemium games doing that but it is totally unacceptable for triple A games with triple A price asking for real money when you want to cheat like EA did with Dead Space 3.

Chimphappyhour

I express my displeasure with the freemium by downloading the games, playing them until I can’t anymore without a purchase and removing them. I refuse to support their model.

Unorthodox

You could also add down-rating them to your algorithm.

Gideon Waxfarb

I don’t hate freemium games as much as some people, assuming they’re done tastefully. But it sounds like this has in-app purchases on top of ads? Think I’ll skip.

http://twitter.com/gamercore Chris Chavez

Yeah, and not even a few ads, like full-screen popup ads every 30 seconds or so. They’re meant to be an annoyance, to nudge you to unlock the ad-free option.

Unorthodox

I sense Chris’ fail of the week for next podcast.

pr0xidian

This game has ads? I didnt notice thanks to my root access. Bahaha.

NatT96™

This app is plagued with issues. On my ASUS tablet the game constantly crashing. The ads are extremely an issue and hence enjoyability of the app.

Graur Tudor

I am playing the game with the Internet connection turned off and have never seen an add. I actually find the game very entertaining this way, it’s a good endless runner and quite challenging.